Automatic bowling alley mechanism



May 25, 1943. J. E. FLANAGAN AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY MECHANISM 12 Sheets-Sheet J u Filed Sept, 11, 1940 %&-

llllllllllll III R q R a O Mw Wm Z d BY Q v 7/ May 25, 1943. J. E. FLANAGAN 2,319,925

. AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY IECHANISI I I Filed Sept. 11. 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENT OR.

0 I Jail/z lf'larza garz y 1943- 1 J. E. FLANAGAN 2,319,925

AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY MECHANISM Filed Sept. 11, 1940 1 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

May 25, 1943.

J. E. FLANAGAN' AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY MECHANISM Filed Sept. 11, 1940 12 She ets sheei 4 INVENTCR.

May '25, 1943.

J. E. FLANAGAN AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY MECHANISM Filed Sept. 11, 1940 as as 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Ja/zrz Z Flaraqgan May 25, 1943. J. E. FLANAGAN AUTOIIATIC BOWLING ALLEY MECHANISM Filed Sept. 11. 1940' 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 9 J. E,.- FLANAGAN 2,319,925

AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY MECHANISM Filed Sept. .11, 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 May 25, I943. J.'E. FLANAGAN AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY IEGHANISI Filed Sept. 11. 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 I mvsmov.

1/22/2725!" cz/Z MW WM May 25, 19 3. J. E. FLANAGAN AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY MECHANISM Filed Sept. 11, 1940 IZ Sheets-Sheet 9 May 1943- J. 'FIQ-ANAGAN 2,319,925

AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY IIECHANISI Filedsept. 11, 1940' 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR. Jo/zrz [Fla/0 70;

May 25, 1943- J. E. FLANAGAN AUTOMATIl IC BOWLING ALLEY MECHANISM I'l -Ill.

Filed Sept. 11. 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR.

P/N JMEEP ITO/l f0fl/Z ZT/ZQ/A QQ/Z, BY

ATTORNEYS" May 1943- J. E. FLANAGAN 2,319,925

AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY MECHANISM Filed Sept. 11, 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 g 51/ mvamox John Eflarzqgam;

Patented May 25, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,319,925 AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY MECHANISM John E. Flanagan, Chicago, Ill. Application September 11, 1940, Serial No. 356,309

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved type of mechanism for use in connection with standard bowling alleys, by which manual clearance of pins, resetting of pins, and return of balls is made unnecessary, these operations being automatic and within the selective control of the bowler.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a complete and automatic bowling ball and pin control mechanism-actuated at the will of the bowler and'provided with selective control units electrically actuated and having indicatin devices for accurately showing the alley position of pins which remain standing after a ball has been bowled.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a bowling alley control mechanism having a series of functions electrically initiated and actuated by which pins remaining on an alley after a bowling ball has passed along the alley will be swept clear of the alley, pins swept clear of the alley will be automatically conveyed to a loading mechanism and thereby replaced in the desired position, and involving the return of a ball which has passed across the alley, these functions being so related as to prevent interference and to insure accurate and selective operation of the alley with respect to the placement of pins and return of the bowling ball in a rapid manner.

These and other objects will be evident upon a consideration of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken along line l-l of Fig. 2 showing the combined conveyor system, pin-setting mechanism and ball return; v

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of Fig. 2 and shows in particular the details of the pin sweep mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the apparatus taken along line 4-4 of Fig, 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the pin-setting mechanism taken along line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a single pin-setting unit taken along line 6-6 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 'l! of Fig. 6 showing the single pin-setting unit in different operative positions;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig, 6;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the balllifting mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a front view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 9 with the ball hoist track momented;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along line ll-ll of Fig. 10 and shows diiferent positions of the ball-lifting mechanism;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a single pin-lifting member constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 13 is a front view of the single pin-lifting unit shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary front view of the pinconveying mechanism in horizontal position and shows a single pin-engaging unit about to be tripped for location of a pin in the pin-setting mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Fi 14;

Fig. 16 is a top view of the pin-setting mechamsm;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken along line ll-l'l of Fig. 16 and showing mechanism for raising and lowering the pin-setting device;

Fig. 18 is a detailed view of the pin-sweeping bar shown in Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary top view of the ball hoist showing a ball-stopping mechanism;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken along line 2020 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view taken along line 2l2| of Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is similar to Fig. 21 and shows the ball-stopping mechanism in operation;

Fig. 23 is a view of the control board by which the player performs selected functions at will;

Fig. 24 is a vertical sectional view taken through the center of one of thespots upon which a bowling pin is positioned on the alley;

Fig. 25 is a wiring diagram showing with Fig. 26 the electrical operation of the equipment; and

Fig. 26 is a wiring diagram to be taken with Fig. 25 and showing the controlled system for operating the mechanism described in connection with the other figures.

A feature of the apparatus described herein is that it is possible for the operator to automatically initiate and complete any desired functions which can be performed manually, and that such functions can be initiated and completed in any des red order.- The particular mechanism by Which these operations are performed is simple in construction and sufficiently easily operated without special tutoring o: r the part of the player to make the device highly practical.

- In general, the apparatus includes a conveyor system by which balls and pins are taken from a common position to separate conveyors, one of which re-positions the pins and the other of which returns the ball to the player.

The apparatus as shown in the drawings and with particular respect to Fig. 1 includes an ordinary bowling alley indicated generally at III, at the rear end of which are a series of pin spots H. II are positioned in the usual manner with a head pin spot for the number one pin and three additional parallel rows having in order two, three and four pin spots for the remaining nine pins. The pins will be indicated generally at l2. The bowling ball will be indicated generally at l3.

As a ball is bowled down the alley and strikes the pins l2 it knocks them backwardly toward the rear end of the alley. A padded backstop M of conventional construction is provided at a point spaced from the rear of the alley to receive the impact of pins and the ball where the velocity of the pins or ball may be suilicient to carry them this distance. A rear wall I5 is provided as a positive backstop for both balls and pins, this rear wall being positioned a conventional distance behind the rear end of the alley. The sides of the alley adjacent the pins and the backstops are indicated at l6, these sides also being of conventional construction.

Between the back wall I5 and. the rear end of the alley is a space which is known as a pit in which the bowling ball and pins are received from the rear end of the alley. Leading into the pit are the gutters H which are positioned on each side of the alley. The gutters likewise are of conventional construction.

Below the pit at the rear of the alley is positioned a conveyor mechanism which includes an idler roller l8 adjacent one side of the pit and a driven conveyor roller IS on the other side of th pit. The roller I9 is driven by a suitable motor through the shaft 2|). Roller |8 also may be driven if desired. Encompassing the rollers l8 and I9 is a conveyor belt 2| constructed from a suitable flexible continuous web such as reinforced canvas. This continuous conveyor belt preferably is of sufficiently heavy construction to withstand the abuse given it by the bowling ball and pins propelled against and falling upon it from the rear end of the alley. It will be observed that the conveyor belt 2| constitutes the bottom of the pit behind the alley. The belt extends substantially the entire length of the pit and operates in a direction transversely of the alley, as shown in Fig. 4. A side flange 22 is provided on the rear end of the alley to prevent the ball and pins from becoming dislodged from the edge of the conveyor. The ends of the rollers l8 and I9 are journaled in the framework 23 which is supported upon suitable standards.

A ball on the conveyor belt 2| is carried in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 4 to the side of the alley adjacent the driven roller l9 and from the conveyor the ball is dumped upon the spaced railings 24. These railings are spaced apart sufiiciently to allow pins to drop through. They also are given a backward slant so that the ball rolls along the rails to be delivered to a ball hoist as shown in Fig. 3. The ball hoist may be positioned in any desired place, since It will be understood that the spots delivery of the ball may be effected by curving the rails in any suitable direction.

From the rails 24 the ball dumps upon the ball hoist yoke 25 which in inoperative position assumes the slightly tilted position shown in solid lines in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3 the delivery rails have not been shown in order to make clear the operation of the ball-hoisting mechanism. As the ball drops upon the yoke 25 the latter is depressed to the position shown by the solid lines in Fig. 11.

The yoke 25 is mounted on a shaft 28 in a rotatablemanner. Shaft 28 carries at its ends the wheels 21. Mounted inwardly of the wheels 21 is an upwardly extending frame 28. The upper end of the frame 28 carries a shaft 23 upon the outer ends of which are mounted the wheels 30. The frame 28 is mounted to travel upwardly and downwardly in the upright trackforming frames 3|. tion the track-forming frames 3| are bent forwardly as shown in Fig. 3. Brace members 32 and 33 are provided to maintain the tracks 3| in rigid position.

Extending across the skeleton framework formed by the members 3|, 32 and 33 and at a point below the delivery point of the bowling ball from the track 24 is a rotatable shaft 34, this shaft being suitably journaled in bearings supported by two of the cross members 33. The shaft 34 has a chain sprocket 35 mounted at its central portion. At a point spaced upwardly from the shaft 34 there is provided a similar shaft 35 which carries a. chain sprocket 31 at its central portion. The shaft 31 is journaled in brackets supported by the members 33, and is driven through suitable reducing gear by the motor 38.

Sprockets 35 and 31 carry a continuous conveyor chain 39. The details of construction of the chain 39 are shown more particularly in Figs. 10 and 11. At spaced points along the chain there are provided lugs 48 which carry cross rods 4|, thepurpose of which will be explained later. In the modification shown in the drawings the lugs 40 are formed as outer chain lengths provided with forward extensions. It will be seen that the conveyor chain 39 travels upwardly adjacent the track members 3|.

The ball-carrying yoke 25 is provided with a rigidly attached downwardly extending leg 42, the lower end of which has a notch 43 which is adapted to engage rods 4| when in the backwardly pressed position shown by solid lines in Fig. 11. A spring 44 extends between the ball-carrying yoke 25 and the frame 28, as shown in Fig. 11, and biases the yoke toward upwardly tilted position in which the notch 43 is out of engagement with the reds 4|. ball on the yoke is suflicient to overcome the tension of the spring.

The yoke 25 is provided with a partial collar 45 adjacent its pivoted portion, and the collar 45 has stop portions 46 and 41 respectively on each side of the frame member 28 to limit the .upward and downward movement of the yoke Adjacent their upper por- The weight of a shown by solid lines in Fig. 11, the leg 42 thereupon releasing the two-pole switch 45, thereby rotating one of its poles to closed position and causing the motor 58 to revolve, as described more particularly later herein. The motor drives the chain mechanism of the ball hoist. With the leg 42 in the backwardly held position, one of the rods 4| will engage the notch 42 as the chain is driven and will thereby lift the ball-carrying yoke and frame 28 upwardly. Frame 28 travels in the track 5| by means of engagement of the wheels 21 and 85 with the track, so that the entire ball-lifting mechanism is moved to the position shown by dotted lines in FiB. 3. As the upraised position is reached, the chain 55 and rod 4| turn around sprocket 51, as shown in dotted lines at the top oi'Fis. 11. At this position the frame 25 is tilted forwardly as the rollers 85 follow a forward bend at the top of the track 8|. By means of this tilting the yoke 25 is caused to slant downwardly to an extent suilicient to permit the ball to roll oil the yoke onto the ball return track 45 which returns the ball to the player in the usual manner.

Upon release of the ball from the yoke the latter resumes its'original upwardly tilted position and the notch 43 is released from engagement with the rod 4|. Thereupon the ball-lifting yoke and frame fall downwardly along the track 3| into their initial position.

To prevent the undue jar a shock-absorbing mechanism is provided at the lower position of the ball yoke. This is shown in Fig. 3. The standard 50 carries a lever 5| having a forward arm adapted to be struck by the downwardly falling carriage 28. The rear arm of the lever 5| engages the valve rod of a dash pot 52. This mechanism cushions the fall of the ball hoist.

As the yoke returns to its downward position it opens the switch 48 and the ball hoist motor 38 is thereby stopped.

In the embodiments shown in Figs." 19 to 22 means are provided for preventing more than one ball at a time from being returned by the ball-hoisting device. Such means includes a circular band 53 positioned adjacent the track 24. The diameter of the band ismade slightly larger than the diameter of a standard bowling ball. To reach the yoke 25 the ball must pass through band 53. Below the band 55 and between the track 24 is provided a stop member 54 which in its upraised position as shown in Fig. 22 prevents a ball from passing toward the yoke 25. The stop member is pivoted at 55 and when released falls in the downward position shown in Fig. 21 to permitthe free passage of a ball along the track. Stop member 54 is raised by the solehold 55. The latter is actuated automatically by a second pole of switch 48. Thus, when a ball falls upon the yoke 25, backward movement of the leg 42 also releases switch 45, permitting it to close and energize solenoid 55. As will be seen from Fig. 19, the band 53 is positioned adjacent the yoke 25 so that more than one ball cannot pass through the band before actuation of the stop member 54. When the yoke 25 returns to its ball-receiving position the solenoid 55 is de-energized by the opening of switch 48, thus permitting stop 54 to return to its downward position, thereby allowing the next ball to pass along the track to the yoke 25.

The pin-conveying and setting mechanism is simple in construction and operation. As pins are knocked or swept from the alley they are received by the conveyor belt 2| and are transported thereby to a side or the alley where they fall through the space between the rails 24. Beneath the rails 24 and parallel thereto is a pinconveyins belt system including a shaft I! having mounted on it the spaced pulleys 58 and a similar shaft 55 having mounted on it the belt pulleys 55. Continuous belts 5| are carried by the pulleys 58 and 55 and are spaced apart a distance sumcientiy small to prevent a pin from falling therebetween. The shaft 55 is driven by a suitable motor in a direction to eirect travel of the belts 5| in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2.

,At the delivery end of the belts 5| is provided a pin tumbler 52. The construction of the tumbler 52 is such as to effect proper placement of pins as shown in Fig. 3, regardless of which end of the pins is in the lead as the pin enters the ticular in Fig. '3. The pin shown in horizontal position by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 represents a pin leaving the pin conveyor with the small end first. This small end progresses over the hump 55 until the large end of the pin is clear of the conveyor. The large end of the pin is heavier than the small end and the pin will reverse its direction and slide down into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 as the pin leaves the conveyor. If the heavy end of the pin leaves the conveyor first, the pin will tumble into the vertical position shown by the dotted lines of Fig. 3 and then into the position shown in full lines. In this case the pin will tumble before its heavy end encounters the hump 5|. The pin tumbler 52 is supported by a suitable standard 54.

The pin tumbler leads to a downwardly slanting pin bin 55, and the pins roll from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 through the opening 55 onto the member 55. The pin bin 55 is shown as of such dimension as to receive five Pins.

A stop member 51 ispositioned so as to stop the first pin at a position opposite the center -of the alley. From this position the pins are elevoted to a pin-setting mechanism. The pin elevator includes a vertical flight for lifting the pins from the bin and a horizontal flight for carrying them to thepin-setting mechanism. The vertical flight is mounted on the frame members 58. Adjacent the stop member 51 and to the rear of the pin bin is positioned a shaft 59 upon which are mounted the spaced sprockets l5. Engaging with these sprockets are the spaced conveyor chains II which extend upwardly from the sprockets. A given forward or leading portion of the chains passes upwardly over the idler sprockets 12, then horizontally to a position in advance of the position of the head, or number one, pin on the alley where it engages the bottom of idler sprockets 13, to pass upwardly over the idler sprockets 14 and then backward horizontally to a position at the rear of the alley, after which it passes over the idler sprockets 15 and then downward back to the main sprockets 15. The sprockets I2, 13, i4 and 15 are carried upon a suitable framework above the alley. As shown in Fig. 5, this framework includes the L-shaped support bars 14 positioned on each side of the alley, the cross members 11, the vertical bar 18, and the brace members 19, as well as the top cross bars 85. The pin conveyor chains H are provided with loosely mounted wheels 82, and these wheels travel during the horizontal flights of the conveyor on the -L-shaped track members 83, the

. spreading apart.

latter being mounted on the support 18 as shown in P18. 5.

The conveyor chains are driven in the direction shown by the arrows in Fig. 1 by a suitable motor connected to the shaft 69.

The chains II are provided with twenty-one pin-lifting and positioning members spaced as shown in Fig. 1. Each of these pin lifters is mounted on a shaft 84 extending between the chains. The construction of the pin-carrying devices may be seen in particular in Figs. 12 to 15. Loosely mounted on the shaft 84 are castings 85. Each of these castings has spaced projecting portions 88 mounted about the shaft 84, a central opening 81, and projecting lugs 88 positioned on the opposite side of the lugs 88. Withinthe openings 91 are mounted a pair of pin-grasping hooks 89. These hooks are pivoted as shown at 90 within the body of the members 85. That is, the pivot pins 99 extend through the hooks 89 and into the body of the castings 85 so as to allow the hooks 89 to rotate laterally about them. A spring 9| is secured to the hooks 89 at a point slightly below the pivot pins 98, so as to bias the hooks toward an inward position. As will be seen in Fig. 14, the hooks are spaced apart sufliciently to provide for the engagement of the upper part of a. bowling pin when the hooks are in their inward position. When moved to their outward position the hooks are spread apart sufliciently to allow the pin to drop. This latter position may be seen in Fig. 13, as indicated by the dotted lines.

Between the lug members 88 is mounted a weighted wedge-shaped pin-tripping member 92. The upper portion of this tripping member consists of a relatively light projecting finger, while the lower portion consists of a relatively heavy wedge portion. The wedge member 92 is tapered downwardly and backwardly, as shown in Fig. 15, and its weight balance is such that the wedge member is biased toward a position in which it locks the upper ends of the hook members 89, thereby preventing the hook members from Since the trip member 92 is pivoted in the lugs 88, movement of the upper end of the trip member backwardly causes the wedge 92 to be dislodged from its locking posi- 'tion between the upper ends of the hook members 89, so that the latter are free to spread apart.

The weight of a pin is sufficient to overcome the resistance of the spring 91 and when the pin trip wedge member is released from engagement with the upper extensions of the fingers 89, the pin will be released.

When a pin is engaged by the finger portions of the hook members 89 the assembly assumes the position shown in full lines in Fig. 12. That is, the weight of the pin is sufficient to place'and maintain the pin-carrying unit in substantially vertical position. After a pin is released the weight balance of the casting 85 and the trip member 92 is such that the center of gravity is above the shaft 84 so that the hooks 89 will assume and remain in the tilted position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12 until it again picks up a pin from the bin 65.

The operation of the pin-lifting and positioning mechanism is as follows. As shown in Fig. l, the pin-lifting mechanism is so positioned that as the chains H are moved forward, unloaded pin-lifting hooks 89 at the rear of the unit are carried around the sprocket 10. In their initial upward travel the pin engaging ends of the hooks receive the narrow neck portion of a pin in the bin which is in the path of travel of the hooks at that point. As the upper end of the pin is larger than this narrow neck portion, continued travel of the conveyor causes the hooks 89 to. grasp the pin and to lift it from its position in the bin. Thereupon the weight of the pin causes the hooks to assume the position shown in their upward travel in Fig. 1. After a pin is carried away from the pin bin in the manner described, the remainder of any pins in the bin will roll downwardly by gravity, placing the pin next following the one so removed in position to be engaged by the next following unloaded hook. In this manner pins brought to and placed in the bin by the belts GI and the tumbler 62 are removed in order from the bin and conveyed into position for delivery to the pin-positioning mechanism to be described hereinafter.

Positioned directly beneath the lower horizontal flight of the pin conveyor, between the sprockets I2 and I3, are a series of pin chutes 93, 94. 95, 96, 91, 98, 99, I09, llll and I92, the mouths of these chutes being in alignment beneath and parallel to said lower horizontal flight. The mouth of each chute is a closed ring, large enough in diameter to permit a pin to pass through freely in vertical position. Below the mouth and along its full length the chute is open at the top forming a trough of substantially U-shaped section. The discharge ends of said chutes lead to the pin-setting mechanism.

Above the mouth of each of the cutes 93 to 102 is a pin-tripping unit of the type shown in Figs. 5 and 14. Each of such units includes a solenoid I03 having an upwardly extending link connection I04 to which is secured one end of the trip I05. The latter is pivoted at an intermediate point to the frame structure as shown at I 06, The free and lighter end of the trip I is positioned above and in the path of travel of the pin conveyor in its lower horizontal flight. In its downward position the free end of the trip member is positioned to engage the upwardly extending finger of the trip member 92 of the pin carrier unit. Normally the free end of the trip is the upward position shown by the solid line in Fig. 5. When it is desired to release a pin above any selected one of the chutes 93 to I02 the solenoid of that particular chute is actuated to cause depression of the free end of the trip member I05 so that the trip member 92 of the next pin-conveying unit which comes along will strike the trip member I05 and cause the wedge to be released from its position between the hooks 89, thereby releasing the pin of that unit and allowing it to fall into the selected chute.

- If there is no occasidn for the releasing of a pin from the pin conveyor into any chute, that pin simply continues its travel on the conveyor until needed. Twenty-one in the system are sufficient to insure maximum speed of operation. When a player is ready to bowl his first ball the pin conveyor unit and the pin-setting unit between them will hold a full complement of pins. Thus a complete set of pins may be positioned on the alley without Waiting for return of the pins which are in bins. Since the lifting of a pin from the pin bin depends upon the angular position of the hooks 89 as shown in Fig. 12, the return to pin-pick-up position of a pin which has not been set by the conveyor does not interfere with pins in the bin. A pin will not be lifted from the bin until an empty hook is available.

' After a pin has been released by dislodgment of the pin trip wedge 92 from between the upper ends of the hooks 89 the offset weight of the pin-conveying unit causes the hooks again to assume the angular position of Fig. 12 and the wedge again slips into position between the upper ends of the fingers 89. To prevent the possibility of the wedge member sticking between these fingers or being prevented from returning to its desired position. the wedge is tapered downwardly as well as backwardly. After release of a pin, gravity with the assistance of the spring 9I causes the fingers immediately to assume thei inward position and this makes it unnecessary for the wedge 92 to force its way into the proper locking position.

By the mechanism described a pin in any pinconveyingunit can be deposited in any one of the chutes by operation of the solenoid above that chute.

The pin chutes 83 to I02 lead to the ten posi tions of a pin-setting carriage indicated generally at I01. Preferably, these chutes lead in order to the one to ten positions for the pins as to be set up.

The pin-setting carriage includes an upper plate I08 and a lower plate I09 spaced from the upper plate by means of bolts I I0. The bolts I I are rigidly secured to the lower plate I08 and are mounted in loose openings in the upper plate I08 so that the plates may be compressed toward each other, the upper heads of the bolts being pushed upwardly above the upper plate I 08 upon this action. The spring members III resist compression of the plates I08 and I09 together and bias the lower plate toward its fully extended position away from the upper plate.

The upper plate I08 and the lower plate I09 are provided with a series of openings I I2 in positions corresponding to the positions of the numbers one to ten pins. In the openings of the upper plates are mounted pin-receiving and setting units, the construction of which may be seen from Figs. 1, 6, 7, 8, l6 and 17. These units include the complementary downwardly tapering shell portions I I3. The members II3 are shaped to embrace the lower end of a pin from a position adjacent the widest diameter of the pin, as will be seen in Figs. 6 and 7. In their closed position these shells receive a pin from their respective chutes and hold the pin in a position above the spot on the alley upon which it is desired to set pin. As a pin reaches the lower end of a chute, its forward end strikes a dished stop II4 which is mounted on the plate I08 on the far side of the shell unit and at right angles to the line of open ing between the shell portions I I3 and I I4, so that the pin in leaving the chute strikes against the stop I I4 which is so designed as to up-end the pin and direct it properly into the pin-receiving and setting unit provided for that chute. In up-ending, the upper end of the pin is projected through the open upper portion of the chute. By having the chute open at the top of a sharp turn at the lower end of the chute is made possible. The members II3 are pivoted adjacent their widest portionas shown at I on opposite sides of the pin-setting unit. The lower plate I09 in its downward position is slightly below the lower end of the members II3 so that the latter are free to open up about the pivots I I 5 to release a pin held by the members I I3.

The shells II3 are provided with upper adjacent edges IIB which provide an upwardly tapering opening between the shells and above the pivots I I5. Above each of these openings on one side of theshells is provided a solenoid I I1 having a downwardly extending shaft po'rtion II8 provided with a wedge member I III on its lower end. The wedge member H9 in the downwardly extended position of the shaft H8 is positioned in the opening between the complementary edges III; of the two shell members, thereby preventing the shell members from spreading apart to release a pin. 'When the solenoid is actuated and the shaft member II 8 is raised upwardly, the Wedge member I I9 assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 and the edges IIIi are free to come together. The weight of a pin held in the shell members H3 is sufficient to cause thesemembers to rotate apart into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 'I to release a; pin.

Pivotally mounted on each of the stop members H4 is a trip finger switch member I having a lower portion I2I extending through one of the shell members H3 and a weighted outwardly extending arm I22 which biases the contact portion I2I toward the position shown in full lines in Fig. 7. 0n the outer arm I22 of the member I20 are mounted the mercury switches I23 and I24, as shown in Fig. 8.

The opening between the lower ends of the shells H3 is large enough to allow the upper end of a bowling pin to pass'but small enough to retain the lower end of the pin in the manner described. When a pin is positioned between the two shell members the contact end I 2| of the member I20 is pressed outwardly and the mercury switches are in upwardly raised position. When the pin has been released from the shells by operation of the solenoids III the weight of the arm I22 is such as to cause it to assume the position shown in Fig. 17 in which the mercury switches are in reversed or downward position.

On opposite sides of the carriage I01 are mount ed the upwardly extending shafts I26. These shafts pass through the bearing brackets I2I of the upwardly extending support frames I28, the latter being positioned on L-shaped supports which are secured to the sides of the alley.

The upper ends of the shafts I26 are provided with the hook members I29 to which are attached cables I30. The cables I30 pass about pulleys BI, and the latter are rigidly mounted on a shaft I32 which is journaled in the upper ends of the frame members I28, as shown in Fig. 5. The opposite ends of the cables I30 are provided with counterweights I33 which approximate the weight of the pin carriage unloaded, plus the weight of five pins.

The shaft I32 also has rigidly attached sprockets I34 about which passes the chain I35, the

latter being driven by a motor I38.

The apparatus also is provided with a pin and ball-sweeping mechanism by which the alley may be cleared. This mechanism is shown in particular in Figs. 1, 3, and 18 and includes a sweeping member I40 of the type shown' in Fig. 18. The sweeping member I40 is a transversely extending triangular shaped frame'member having end portions I4I shaped to fit into the gutters on each side of the alley. The end plates I42 of the member I40 are provided with wheels I43 upon which the pin-sweeping mechanism rides as it is dragged along the alley. The member I40 operates, as stated, by being dragged along the rear end of the alley to dump pins or a ball from the alley or gutters onto the conveyor2l. The ends I42 are provided with slots I44 through which extend the pins I45 of the arms I46, these arms acting to operate the sweeping member I40 through a cyclic operation.

Along the other end of the arms I48 are provided the longitudinally extending slots I41. The

shafts I48 extend through the slots I41. Shafts I48 also carry small gears I49 which mesh with the racks I50 on the arms I48. Two motors I50 drive the shafts I48 through suitable reducing sition shown in Fig. 3. Since the shafts I48 are.

at the ends of the slots I" this rotation of the shafts I48 causes the gears I49 to rotate the arms I45 downwardly into the initial position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 31in which the pinsweeping mechanism has been moved to a position in engagement with the alley, it being understood that the wheels I43 operate in the gutters of the alley. Thereafter the continued counterclockwise rotation of the gears I49 causes the rack bars I50 to travel, thereby moving the arms I46 upwardly while pressing the sweeping unit against the gutters. This movement causes the sweeping unit to pass backwardly along the alley to the substantially vertical position shown in Fig. 3 at the end of the alley in which all pins and balls will have been dislodged from the alley onto the conveyor 2]. In this latter position the left ends of the slots I" will have been reached.

The mechanism described hereinbefore is operated by an electrical system which includes initiating switches such as push buttons, control circuits and switches therefor, and operating circuits responsive thereto for the automatic oper ation of the entire mechanism in proper relation and without interference. The electrical system is shown in Figs. 25 and 26, the right-hand side of Fig. 25 fitting the left-hand side of. Fig. 26 as a complete wiring. diagram.

The drawings illustrate the apparatus in a con- ,dition ready for setting pins on the alley, the pin sweep mechanism in horizontal retracted position, and the pin carriage raised.

The operation of the ball hoist is as follows:

The bowled ball is conveyed to the ball hoist, as described hereinbefore, and the ball is lifted to the return rails 49. As the ball-lifting yoke 25 falls back to its down position its under leg engages the two-pole mercury switch 48 and pulls it past neutral position. The switch 48 is a two-pole safety interlocking limit switch mounted adjacent the base of the ball hoist, and the mercury swiches I5I and I52 of the switch are held in normal position by gravity. The yoke 25 releases the switch' 48 from the position shown in Fig. 3 when a ball is received on the yoke and reverses the switches I 5I and I52. In Fig. 26 the switch 48 is shown in the same position as in Fig. 3, the units I5I and I52 being open.

The mercury switch I52 makes and breaks one side of a circuit to the ball stop solenoid 53 as shown in Fig. 26 and in the manner described heretofore. Thus, after a ball has been transferred to the yoke 25 the ball stop mechanism is actuated to prevent another ball from passing to the ball elevator until the ball on the yoke 25 has been deposited upon the return rails and the yoke 25 has returned to its normal position.

The mercury switch I5I makes and breaks one side of astart and stop control circuit to the two-pole magnetic ball hoist motor contactor I53, the ball hoist motorbeing indicated at 88. When a ball drops upon the yoke the switch I5I closes the circuit to the contactor I53 and the latter closes the circuit to the ball hoist mo-' tor 38 which operates the conveyor chain 39 to lift the ball to the return rails, the yoke 25 then being released from the conveyor and dropping back into contact with the switch 48 to reverse It and to open the circuit to the contactor I53 to stop the ball hoist motor.

It will be seen that the ball return mechanism is automatically operative and independent of the action of the bowler.

The entire electrical equipment is operated from the trunk lines I54 and I55, which may be any convenient source of electricalenergy. For

example, the trunk line may be am. ordinary municipal volt or 220 volt supply line. Reference numerals have not been added to the particular lines passing from these trunk lines, since these lines are conventional and adequately shown by the wiring diagram.

The switch 48 operates upon a relatively small current which is sufficient to actuate the contactor I53 to connect the ball hoist to an operating current which does not have to pass through the mercury switches.

Assuming the thrown ball has knocked all of the pins from the alley onto the conveyor these pins and ball will be transferred by the normally operating conveyor belt 2I to the side of the alley, as described before. The pins pass through the pin tumbler and onto the pin bin 65. The pin bin is shown as being large enough to receive five pins. Beneath the pin bin 65 there are positioned two switches I56 and I51. Each of these switches is asingle pole safety interlocking limit switch mounted in the base of the pin storage bin, and the switches are connected in parallel to make and break one side of-a control circuit to the two-pole magnetic conveyor contactor I58 shown in Fig. 26. This contactor is a two-pole magnetic switch which is effective to operate the pin conveyor motor I59 connected to shaft 59. Switches I58 and I5! each carries a single mercury unit which is held in a downward direction by gravity when a pin is not in the fourth or fifth position in the pin bin. When a pin occupies the fourth or fifth position in the pin bin the corresponding switch is depressed and reversed. A pin in the fourth position in the pin bin will reverse the switch I58 and a pin in the fifth position in the binwill reverse the switch I51. As long as a pin is on both of the switches I56 and I5! the current to the contactor I58 is broken and the pit conveyor does not operate. This prevents a piling up of pins in the pinbin in the event the pin conveyor mechanism does not remove them fast enough. By using the two switches I58 and I 51 connected in parallel and positioned in the manner shown the momentary operation of the pit conveyor motor by reason 01' a pin rolling across the switches I58 and I5! is prevented.

This control of the pit conveyor by the number of pins-in the pin bin also will be seen to be independent of the action of the operator or bowler.

The pin conveyor operates continuously and removes the pins from the bin 85, as describedheretofore. These pins are initially lifted vertically and then along the horizontal flight above the chutes 93 to I02. The operating mechanism is such as to cause a pin to be tripped above any chute leading to a pocket in the pin carriage which is not occupied by a pin. On the .pin' carriage, as has been stated, there are twin switches I 23, I24. When any particular pin has been released from the pin pockets of the carriage the arm I is depressed andthe switches I23 'and scribed and this switch completes the control cirby this position. As a pin is received by the a pocket in the carriage following this operation the corresponding arm I2I is pressed outwardly and the switch I20 is reversed, the spring on the solenoid I03 then returning it to inoperative position so that another pin will not be released in that particular chute until the corresponding pin in the pin carriage has been released.

The individual pin-carrying pockets on the pin carriage I01 also are provided with the solenoids I I1 as described heretofore. The mercury switch I23 makes and breaks one side of the circuit to the corresponding trip solenoid I03 to prevent dumping of pins into the individual pin pockets of the carriage I01 when such pockets already contain a pin. The mercury switches I24 of the ten units I20 are in series connection and make and,break one side of a circuit to the two coactingsingle pole magnetic contactors I59 which control the circuits to the pin set carriage motor I36 and a master switch to be described later herein, so that the pin set carriage is prevented from being lowered unless completely loaded with pins.

Again, the operation of filling the pin carriage with pins is automatic and beyond the control of the bowler. So long as any individual pin pocket or basket in the pin carriage is empty, the corresponding trip member will cause the release of apin from the pin conveyor immediately to fill the pocket, and the pin carriage motor will be prevented from operating until ten pins have been loaded in the carriage.

With the pin carriage full of pins, the pin-setting operation is initiated by the bowler turning the master switch I60 counterclockwise, thereby completing the circuit through the mercury switch I6I of the masterswitch to the pin carriage motor contactor N2, the latter being a three-pole reversing magnetic contactor or switch which makes and breaks the circuit to the pin carriage motor I36, as shown in Fig. 26. The motor I36 then lowers the pin carriage to a position adjacent the floor oralley.

The master switch I60 has the two mercury I switches I6! and I63 which are made when the master switch is turned" clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 25, and a third mercury switch I66 which is broken upon such turning, and vice versa.

Pivotally mounted slightly above the upper position of the pin carriage I01, is a two-pole reversing limit switch arm I65, as shown in Fig. 17. This switch has the mercury switches I66 and I61 mounted on it so as to reverse lupon opposite motion 'of the switch. As the pin carriage is lowered the stop member I68 on one of the shafts I26 comes in contact with the switch arm I65 and moves it from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 17. This action reverses the mercury switch "I66, thereby reversing the current to the pin carriage motor I36 and causing it to reverse its direction of rotation so as to raise the carri age to its up position.

' of the switch arm I20.

cult tothe two coacting single pole magnetic contactors I53 which make and break the circuit to the solenoids II1 of the pin, carriage, thereby raising the wedge members II9 anddischarging the pins in the pin basket upon the appropriatepin spots of the alley in the manner j shown in Fig. 7. As before stated, the solenoids II1 are returned to the-position shown in Fig. 6 by release of the pins and consequcntfr eversal As the pin carriage travels back to its upward position the stop member I69 mounted on the cable I adjacent the counterweight 3 engages the right-hand sid of the switch arm I66 and moves it from the position shown in dotted lines to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1'7.

This reversal in position reverses the mercury switches I66 and I61, thereby breaking the circuit tothe pin carriage motor to stop the pin carriage in upraised position and returning the switch I61 to its position for the next cycle of operation. Thus, the pin setting cycle is complete and the carriage again is ready for the receipt of addi-- tional pins, as determined by the switch arm I20 of the empty individual pin holders of carriage I01.

, In case the bowler desires to set only a limited number of pins on' the alley instead. of the full number, the'desired switch units I10 for the individual pins are operated and'the master switch I60 thereafter is rotated in a counterclockwise direction rather than clockwise. The switch units I10 are mounted on a control board ,adjacent the bowler, along with the master normally in closed position and the switches are connected to one side of the circuit to the solenoids II1 which control the tripping operation for releasing pins upon the alley. In Fig. 25 the switches I10 are set for a ten. pin set up. In conditioning the units I10 for setting an individual pin, the selected pin switch I10 is moved in a clockwise direction. This clockwise motion breaks or opens the switch I1I so that the cir- -cuit through this switch cannot be used for actuating the solenoids H1. The clockwise motion of theswitch I10 causes the unit I13 to be closed and this unit completes the circuit to the individual solenoid 'I I1 of the pin which it is desired to set.

The switch unit II1 also is closed upon rotation of the member I10 clockwise and this switch I12 closes one side of the circuit to a lookout solenoid I14. This solenoid when so actuated prevents the master switch I60 from being rowhich the master switch effects tated in a clockwise direction and permits only rotation in the counterclockwise direction in the setting of the individual selected pins, the buttons I10 -for which have been pressed for individual set-up.

The master switch I60 counterclockwise direction after the individual pin buttons I10 have been pressed and the pin set carriage is lowered. Upon reaching its lower then is rotated in a limit of travel the individual release solenoids II1 are actuated and only the individual selected pins will be discharged. I

I 10 is operated in a clockwise manner the switch unit I12 also closes one side of the circuit; to a return to neutral trip solenoid I15. This solenoid returns the individually pushed buttons I10 to their normal position after completion of the individual pinsetting cycle of operation.

The other side of the circuit to the trip solenoid I is made through the switch I16. The switch I16 has two mercury switch units I11 and I18, th former of which makes and breaks the circuit to the return to neutral solenoid I15.

The mercury switch units I12 on the individual pin buttons I10 also make one side of the circuit to the return to neutral solenoid I15. Thus, when the pin basket gets to its lowered position and the switch I16 has been tripped, the circuit to both sides of the return to neutral solenoid I15 is made and the individual switches I10 immediately are returned to their normal position as,

shown in Fig. 25. The switch I16 is returned to the normal position shown in Fig.'25 by gravityas soon as the pressure of the lug I88,is removed by the raising of the carriage.

By returning the individual pin buttons I10 to their neutral position the solenoid I15 thereby causes the solenoid I14 to be returned to its normal position; to release the lookout on the master switch, it being understood that reversal of the switches I10 to the normal position breaks the circuit to the solenoid I14 through themercury switch I12. s

The switch I16 is mounted adjacent the downward path of travel of the lug I68. This switch normally is held in one position by gravity and is reversed by contact with the lug I68 in the manner shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1'1 when the'pin basket is indown position. This switch is a twopole safety interlocking limit switch and has a mercury switch I11 which makes and breaks one side of the circuit to all of the pin basket trip solenoids I I1 to return the solenoids tothe position shown in Fig. 1'1, regardless of the number of pins which have been released from the basket or carriage. The action of this switch is'the same regardless of whether one or all the pins have been set.

Thus, to set all of the pins, all that is necessary to do is to rotate the master switch I60 in a clockwise direction, and to set any number of individual pins, all that is necessary to do is to retate the master switch I60 in a counterclockwise direction after having pressed the desired number of the buttons I10.

After a ball has been bowled and one or mor pins remain on the alley, the pin sweep mechanism may be actuated by operation of the switch I80 on the control board. This switch has two mercury switch units I8I and I82. The switch unit I8I makes and breaks the circuit to the mercury switch unit I 84 of two-pole reversing limit switch I88 which is mounted adjacent the alley sweep arm I41, as shown in Fig. 3. The

switch I84 makes and breaks one side of the control circuit to the three-pole reversing magnetic contactor or switch I86, and the latter makes and breaks the operating circuit to the alley sweep motors I50. The arms I46 of the alley sweepthen are moved through the operating cycle described heretofore. The rotation of the arms I41 to their final position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 causes the switch I88 to be reversed when the arm reaches its vertical position at the completion of the sweeping operation. This reversal breaks switch I84 and makes switch I85. The switch I85 makes the circuit to the opposite or reverse side of the magnetic contactor I86, thereby reversing the motors I50 and causing the return of the arms I46 to their inoperative horizontal position. When the vsweep arms I48 are returned to their horizontal position the switch I88 again is returned to its normal position as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 to set the circuit for. another cycle of operation.

The pin sweep switch I80 also has the mercury switch unit I82 which normally is in closed position to complete one side of a circuit to the reversing contactor I82 of the pin set carriage motor I36. Whenthe pin sweep switch I80 is actuated to initiate the pin-sweeping operation the mercury unit I82 is moved into open position so as to break the circuit to the contactor I62 for the pin carriage motor, thereby preventing the pin carriage motor from being operated during the sweeping operation. Thus, interferi'erence between the pin carriage and the sweep arm is made impossible.

Mounted adjacent the horizontal position of the arms I 46 is a two-pole safety interlocking limit switch I88 which is provided with the mercury switch units I88 and I80. In its upper position the arm I46 maintains the switch I88 in the position shown in Fig. 3. As the arms I46 rotate downwardly during the sweeping operation the switch I88 reverses by gravity about its pivot portion I9I, the limit of movement by gravity being set by the stop member I92 engaging a fixed stop member.l83. The downward movement of the pin sweep arms I46 as initiated-by the bowler in turning the switch I80 on the control board causes a reversal of the switch I88 so that the mercury unit I88 closes to complete the circuit to the pin sweep motors, thereby allowing the bowler to remove his hand from the push button switch I80. That is, the switch unit I88 takes the place of the switch I80 during the remainder of the operation of the pin sweep mechanism.

The switch unit I80 normally is closed when the pin sweep arms are in horizontal position and maintains the circuit between the switch I82 and the pin set carriage motor contactor I62. As the arm I 46 lowers, this switch I80 reverses to break the circuit to the pin set carriage motor contactor, thereby preventing operation of the pin set carriage during the operation of the alley sweep mechanism. This prevents any possibility of the pin setcarriagebeing lowered into interference with the alley sweep member. Thus the unit I80 has the same function as the switch unit I 82. M Mounted adjacent the position of upper travel of the lug I68 on the shaft I26 is a four-pole safety interlocking limit switch I85 which has the normal position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 17 and which is provided with mercury switch units I86, I91, I88 and I88. In this normal lowered position the switch is supported by the stop member 200, and as the lug I68 is raised to its upper position by the raising of the carriage, the switch I then assumes the position shown in full lines in Fig. 17. The movement between these limits ll'ggerses the mercury switches I86, I81, I88 and The switch unit I96 makes and breaks one side of. the circuit to the ten pin signal lights 20I which are mounted in such position as to be observable by the bowler. These signal lights are positioned in positions corresponding to the pin spots on the alley and re suitably identified so that the bowler can 0 serve which pins remain standing on the alley after the bowling operation.

The mercury switch I81 makes and breaks one side of the circuit through the unit switches I 23 

